Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Zouk Mikael Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Zouk Mikael

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,392 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,079 in Zouk Mikael.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,557 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,677 in Zouk Mikael.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,723 in Ubud, Bali versus $2,275 in Zouk Mikael.

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 29% more expensive than in Zouk Mikael, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ubud, Bali is 5% above, Zouk Mikael is 19% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.57 Rp 64.5K
$10.73 LBP 960.0K
-66.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.32 Rp 583.4K
$59.8 LBP 5.3M
-45.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.01 Rp 90.4K
$7.77 LBP 695.5K
-35.52%
Cappuccino
$2.82 Rp 51.0K
$3.41 LBP 305.2K
-17.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 Rp 24.4K
$1.58 LBP 141.1K
-14.56%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 Rp 13.2K
$0.86 LBP 77.1K
-15.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.93 Rp 53.0K
$3.54 LBP 317.2K
-17.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94 Rp 71.1K
$4.88 LBP 436.7K
-19.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
$1.70 LBP 152.6K
4.71%
White Bread (500g)
$2.45 Rp 44.2K
$0.30 LBP 26.8K
716.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.15 Rp 20.7K
$1.80 LBP 161.5K
-36.11%
Eggs
$2.41 Rp 43.6K
$3.08 LBP 275.6K
-21.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 Rp 258.7K
$4.86 LBP 434.8K
194.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.19 Rp 75.6K
$9.53 LBP 853.3K
-56.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.06 Rp 217.7K
$11.47 LBP 1.0M
5.14%
Apples (1kg)
$3.64 Rp 65.7K
$1.81 LBP 162.4K
101.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
$1.45 LBP 130.0K
8.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 Rp 50.3K
$1.11 LBP 99.3K
151.35%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.24 Rp 40.5K
$1.04 LBP 93.4K
115.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.98 Rp 35.7K
$0.38 LBP 34.2K
421.05%
Onion (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
$1.03 LBP 92.3K
121.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.05 Rp 19.0K
$0.82 LBP 73.3K
28.05%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 Rp 14.2K
$0.55 LBP 49.5K
43.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.19 Rp 57.6K
$2.53 LBP 226.4K
26.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.49 Rp 424.1K
$9.89 LBP 885.1K
137.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.90 Rp 52.3K
$0.87 LBP 77.7K
233.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76 Rp 49.7K
$2.20 LBP 197.3K
25.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,813
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.37 Rp 151.1K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 8,167
$4.90 LBP 438.3K
-90.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,298
$1.23 LBP 110.0K
-62.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.07 Rp 109.6K
$20.09 LBP 1.8M
-69.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 Rp 15.6K
$0.89 LBP 79.7K
-3.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.6K Rp 480.0M
$34.8K LBP 3.1B
-23.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 587.6M
$27.3K LBP 2.4B
19.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$79.0 Rp 1.4M
$173 LBP 15.5M
-54.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09 Rp 73.9K
$38.23 LBP 3.4M
-89.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.85 Rp 430.5K
$37.12 LBP 3.3M
-35.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$98.8 Rp 1.8M
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.35 Rp 114.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.01 Rp 72.3K
$8.17 LBP 731.3K
-50.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$297 Rp 5.4M
$297 LBP 26.6M
0.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,602 Rp 119.2M
$4,449 LBP 398.2M
48.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.4 Rp 964.5K
$70.1 LBP 6.3M
-23.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.11 Rp 688.1K
$44.14 LBP 4.0M
-13.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.7 Rp 1.6M
$73.7 LBP 6.6M
20.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.6 Rp 1.4M
$95.8 LBP 8.6M
-19.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,020 Rp 18.4M
$499 LBP 44.7M
104.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$680 Rp 12.3M
$298 LBP 26.6M
128.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,469 Rp 62.6M
$1,003 LBP 89.8M
245.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,090 Rp 37.7M
$502 LBP 44.9M
316.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,729 Rp 49.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,295 Rp 41.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 3.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
4.25
212.47%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Last update for Zouk Mikael: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,020 in Ubud, Bali and $499 in Zouk Mikael. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $32.00 in Ubud, Bali vs $60.0 in Zouk Mikael. Groceries flip the comparison at $298 vs $205, with Zouk Mikael cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Ubud, Bali vs Zouk Mikael: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ubud, Bali or Zouk Mikael?
Zouk Mikael wins on cost – living expenses run 29% lower than in Ubud, Bali. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Zouk Mikael the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ubud, Bali and in Zouk Mikael?
You'd need roughly $2,088 in Ubud, Bali and $1,619 in Zouk Mikael to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ubud, Bali compared to Zouk Mikael?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,020 in Ubud, Bali versus $499 in Zouk Mikael. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Ubud, Bali or in Zouk Mikael?
Supermarket bills run roughly 45% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud, Bali compared to Zouk Mikael?
All in, you'll spend $1,392 per month in Ubud, Bali versus $1,079 in Zouk Mikael – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Ubud, Bali or in Zouk Mikael?
At $1,079 in Zouk Mikael versus $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Zouk Mikael but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Zouk Mikael the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ubud, Bali or Zouk Mikael?
Both work as nomad bases, but Zouk Mikael delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,079 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Zouk Mikael hard to pass up.
How safe is Ubud, Bali compared to Zouk Mikael?
Safety-wise, Ubud, Bali and Zouk Mikael are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Zouk Mikael gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Ubud, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities